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You don’t want to think so condescendingly, but believe Chio needs a little push to mend this relationship for whatever reason it was fractured. The first step is the most difficult for some. Like for you. Sometimes you feel like you forget how to walk in the morning.
“No need to be so uptight, Chio remembers what happened in the bubble.” You inform Wilma before she fully dives into checking on the Painter. The rest? They can handle it themselves, they’re adults.
“...You do?” Wilma is tremendously surprised!
“It was out of my control.” Chio sighs.
“You don’t seem thrilled to remember.” Wilma is noticeably pained.
“I-I wasn’t keen on the process itself. The memories themselves are another story altogether.” Chio doesn’t want any misunderstandings. Wilma seems relieved.
“Isn’t it funny how different our lives would’ve been if any one of us spoke up?” Wilma helps Chio lay down flat on the bed as she chuckles to relieve some of her guilt. “We kept it all to ourselves and went our separate ways…”
“Are you laying the blame on me?” Chio dispassionately retorts.
“No, not at all. I can’t help but to feel so foolish for not bringing it up to you at the time.” Wilma feels like she ruined her life. “Knowing how it could’ve gone…”
“Put that thought to rest. You’re right to resent me.” Chio’s blood is boiling.
“C-Chio, I want to move past this…” Wilma shakes her head. “Maybe, be fri-”
“I did notice. Not at first, but eventually.” Chio interrupts. “What kind of pathetic excuse of a friend do you take me for?”
“…?” Wilma doesn’t know what to say now.
“I brought it up to the school, but they shut me down. They even had the gall to threaten my scholarship. The police, the news, and anyone else followed the same pattern. Hubbard, Galishoff, Servello, Zullekom. All worthless wastes of clean air. They were all in the pockets of that <span class="mu-s">Ophelia</span>.” Chio puzzles it all together with indignation. The Bubble made her see the whole picture. “And… I didn’t know what to do. I was utterly powerless. And I was ashamed. I couldn’t save the people who mattered the most to me… I couldn’t look others in the eyes… so I went away, and prayed that somehow this fixed itself.” There’s so much anger in Chio. “And I know it didn’t. Years later, I caught it on the news and dreaded seeing you all again. I let that happen. I let that happen to you. I couldn’t face you or the others. I couldn’t sleep knowing one of you could one day show up. So I kept on running and running… But I couldn’t help myself. <span class="mu-i">I failed everyone.</span>”
“Mother…” Nariko half understands why her life was the way it was. She doesn’t have the complete context of all the Bubble stuff…
